Hull Digital - make some noise
Our home city of Kingston-upon-Hull should be at the forefront of the new digital economy. Hull Digital is a new community making it happen.
As you may know, we live in Kingston-upon-Hull. Hull’s widely recognised to have been in decline over the last hundred years, somewhat geographically isolated from the rest of the country, compared to its more dominant cousins, such as Leeds, Sheffield or Manchester.
For these reasons, Hull is popularly seen as behind the times in just about everything – you name it: fashion, culture, business, technology, sport…
It’s enough to get your average Hullite down.
Us Hull folk, it’s true, tend to make excuses (usually out of our control). It’s our geographical location. It’s a lack of government support. It’s media bias. All true to some degree…
Local ISP monopoly
One thing we certainly are hampered by is our local ISP. For historical reasons, Kingston Communications enjoy a tight grip monopoly on telephone services in this city, and thus on internet provision too (via sister company Karoo). While the rest of the country looks forward to the prospect of 50Mb fibre-optic broadband and ever cheaper broadband services, we’re saddled with a slow, unreliable, expensive and monopolistic ISP, with no choice otherwise.
Fast, reliable internet connectivity is widely recognised as being crucial for future growth and propsperity, meaning Karoo’s stranglehold on Hull’s broadband provision is bad for our economy and our ability to compete and contribute.
For a city with a buzzing, talented, enthusiastic digital community, this is bad news all round.
Let’s make some noise!
Not one to sit on his behind and grumble, the irrepressible Jon Moss (head of a local digital marketing consultancy) has decided to do something about it. Jon has founded Hull Digital, a hub for the local digital community that we’re very proud to be associated with.
Inviting contributions from all members of the local digital community (whether that be business owners, web developers, digital marketers – anyone welcome!), the Hull Digital website is making a positive noise about Hull’s digital prospects and talent; campaigning actively for better, more competitive broadband services; promoting digital culture and talent in the region, and encouraging people to get involved:
And even praising Karoo where praise is due.
Everybody get together
It’s not all happening behind a monitor and a keyboard either. Jon has organised the first Hull Digital Meet Up, the first of many. The meet up events will be an opportunity for people to get together, network, discuss ideas, plot evil plans for world domination (er… hang on…) as well as to listen to invited guests and speakers (the Fibrestream guys being one of the first) – all with the ultimate aim of changing Hull’s digital prospects for the better.
Exciting times
Do you live and work in or around Hull, and work with digital technologies? Does the monopolistic stranglehold of our archaic ISP adversely affect you? Do you want to spread your horizons, meet new people and make a noise for some positive change?
Get involved with Hull Digital. Comment on the articles. Write an article yourself! Come along to the meet-ups. Sign the petition. We’ll most certainly be doing so! Exciting times.
What next?
Need advice on your web strategy? Give us a call on 0792 0030077 or email me .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Look forward to hearing from you!
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